Vanity case or compact



Feb. 25, 1936. H, B, CLEGG 2,031,933

VANITY CASE OR COMPACT Filed April 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 25,1936. CLEGG 2,031,933

VANITY CASE OR COMPACT Filed April 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedFeb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFER 8 Claims.

This invention relates to compacts or vanity cases of the characteradapted to serve as containers for powder, rouge, lipstick and the like,as well as to provide a folding mirror suitably positioned forconvenient use.

One object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter comprising telescoping casing and container sections providedwith a mirror so positioned as to be foldable within the casing when theparts are in telescoped position and adapted to be located at aconvenient angle for use in the extended positions of the telescopingparts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thecharacter described provided with means for retaining certain of theparts against accidental separation while permitting them to be made andassembled as separate elements.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a device of thischaracter of separable elements interfitting together to form thecontainer section in such a manner as to be capable of ready assemblageand normally held against separation in their assembled positions, whileat the same time providing means for limiting the movement of thecontainer section relative to the casing section.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various noveldetails of construction, and forms and arrangements of the parts, aswell as in the manner of combining the same, as will be more fully setforth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vanity case showing the same withthe container sections and casing in telescoped relation with eachother.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the structure showing the containersection and casing in extended relation, and with the mirror in its openposition for convenient use,

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the case, takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and showing the parts intheir telescoped relation,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the structure with the parts inextended relation, and showing the mirror in open position at an angleof substantially 125 degrees with the horizontal line of the casing,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the case, showing the casingand container section in extended relation, taken substantially alongthe line 55 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the container parts showing the same inseparated position, as before their connection for final insertionwithin the casing, and,

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view, through the separatedparts of the container section, taken substantially along the line 'I-'Iof Fig. 6.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith, I designatesgenerally the casing, and 2 the container section, which latter is madeup of elements adapted to be interfitted together before final insertionwithin the casing and to be retained in their interfitted relation bymeans which will be more fully described.

The casing I comprises a rectangular shell formed from metal or othersuitable material and provided with an end closure member 4 adapted tobe held in close fitting engagement with one end thereof as by means ofa plate 5, so as to form a complete closure for the open end of theshell. The plate 5 may be secured to the closure plate 4 through blindrivets 6 struck up from one face of the closure plate and passed throughopenings formed in the plate 5. The plate 5 has inturned ends I, whichare preferably of a resilient character, and provided with openings forreceiving tongues 8 rolled down from or otherwise formed upon the innerfaces of the casing sides for looking the closure member 4 firmly inposition upon the casing. The casing is provided at its opposite endwith inturned sides 9 which are engaged by shoulders I0 carried by oneof the container elements to limit the degree of extension of thecontainer section relative to the casing.

The container section 2 is formed of separate elements, I2 and I4, theelement l2 forming the lower portion of the container section comprisesa base or body portion I5, having shoulder portions Ill, and upturnedlateral edges I6 as well A as upturned end portions I? and I8. Theupturned end portion I? is spaced from the corresponding upturnedportions I8 for a purpose which will be described hereinafter. Theelement I4, forming the top of the container section has a main bodyportion provided with downturned lateral edges 2i! and a downturned endedge 2|, which may fit over the lateral edges I6 and end portions I8 ofthe element I2, respectively, to provide a substantially enclosedsection when in interfitted relation. The elements I2 and I 4 arereversely interfitted together, that is, the downturned side and endedges 20 and 2| of the element I4 extend downwardly from the body of theelement I4 and interfit with the upturned side several accessoryreceptacles.

and end edges I B, I! and I8 of the element I2 which extend upwardlyfrom the body of the element I2, to provide a container section in whichthe positions of the lateral and end edges of the elements extend inreversed relation with respect to the body portions thereof to form acontainer section wherein parts of the opposed body portions defineopposite faces of the container section. The lateral edges I6 and 20 maybe provided with correspondingly positioned interengaging depressions 22and 24, respectively, for retaining the elements in interfitting relation when assembled. The element I I is provided with a depression orrecess forming a receptacle 25 for powder and having a hinged cover 26pivotally supported adjacent one edge thereof, together with depressions21 and 28 forming receptacles such as may be used for rouge, lipstick,etc., as shown in Fig. 2; or it may have a depression or recess forminga powder receptacle 30 provided with a hinged cover 3|, and a depression32 forming a holder for rouge, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In either case, the element I4 is provided with "a recess 34 forreceiving a mirror supporting pintle 35 pivotally supporting the mirror36. A coiled spring 3? may be mounted upon or suitably positioned withrelation to the pintle 35 to move the mirror 36 into its extendedposition, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, when the container section is drawnoutwardly into extended position with relation to the casing.

The downturned end edge 2| of the element I4 is provided with acentrally positioned inwardly offset portion All, and an end plate 4|has inwardly extending blind rivets 32 struck up from one face thereofand passed through suitable openings formed in the downturned end edgeZI for securing these parts firmly together in such a manner as toprovide a recess for the reception of the upturned end edge portion IIof the element I2.

The elements I2 and I4 may each be of integral construction throughout,except for the pivoted cover and separate end plate carried bytheelement I4, and may be formed by being stamped out from a thin metalsheet in such a manner as to shape the depressions or recesses in theelement I 5, each depression having continuous side, end and bottomwalls forming the If desired, however, the several receptacles formed inthe element I4 may be constructed by blanking out corresponding openingsand inserting therein trays serving as receptacles, which maybe eitherfitted Within the openings thus formed or soldered or otherwise securedto the element I 4 as may be desired in practice, or certain of thedepressions may have the bottom walls blanked out leaving continuousside and end walls forming with the base of the element I2 suitablereceptacles.

In assembling the parts to form the completed structure, the element I2is first preferably inserted within the casing I prior to the placing ofthe closure plate 4 thereon, and moved into the extended position of theparts with the shoulders IIl contacting with the inturned edge portions9 of the casing. In this position of the parts the element I4 isinterfitted with the element I2 by first inserting that end portion ofthe element; I4 which is located adjacent theshoulders II] within theopen end of the casing a suificient distance to bring the recess 48 intoregistry with the upturned end edge portion I! of the element I2. Theelements I2 and I4 are then pressed together with the upturned edges I 6and I8 01 the member I2 fitting within the downturned edges 26 and 2| ofthe element I4, and with the upturned portion I! of the element I2fitting within the recess formed between the inwardly cifset portion 40of the downturned edge 2i and the end plate 4| secured thereto. Whenthese parts are moved into interfitting relation the depressions 22 and24 interfit to retain the elements against accidental separation. Theclosure plate 4 may then be placed in position upon the open end of thecasing by forcing the resilient ends I of the plate 5 over the tongues8, so that the tongues will enter the openings formed in the resilientends and lock the closure plate securely in position upon the casing.Each resilient end I may be formed of a width less than the maximuminternal depth of the casing to permit the shoulder portions I ii of theelement l2 to move into substantial engagement with the plate 5 when theparts are in their telescoped relation.

The positioning of the upturned end portions IB inwardly of thedownturned end 2| of the element I4, and the positioning of the upturnedend portion I I between the downtur'ned end portion 2I and the end plate4i serves to strengthen and reinforce the end structure of the containersection 2, so that there will be no bending or distortion of the partsthrough the force exerted upon the end plate lI in pulling out thecontainer section when moving the telescoping parts into their extendedpositions.

The element I2 of the container section is provided with shoulders IIIfor limiting the outward movement of the container section relative tothe casing, and has the opposite end formed of such size as to permit itto enter freely within the casing member. The element I2 is provided atthe end opposite to that adjacent the shoulder portions IU of theelement I2, when the parts are in assembled position, with a plate 4!.which limits the movement of the container section in the oppositedirection relative to the casing I.-

Thus, when the elements are interfitted together in operative positiontheyform a container provided with means for limiting its movement ineither direction relative to the casing, while upon separation of theelement both may be removed from the casing I, after removing the, endplate 4.

The mirror supporting pintle 35 is so arranged relative to the end ofthe casing I when the parts are in extended relation that the mirror 36is capable of moving through an angle of approxi-' mately or moredegrees before contacting with the end of the casing I, whereby themirror is so positioned as to be located .conveniently for use when theextended'case is held in a horizontal position, thus making itunnecessary to tilt the case in one direction or the other in order tobring the mirror into the proper position for use.

It is regarded as desirable that the mirror be moved through an angle offrom, say 124 to 132 degrees, in order to suitably position the-sameporting the case from a point nearly on alevel with the face, or tiltingthe case and holding it in tilted position to position the mirror at asuitable angle for use.

When the parts are telescoped together the open end of the casing Icontacting with the mirror serves to return it to its folded positionrelative to the container section as the container section is forcedwithin the casing. The provision of the closure plate 4 and end plate 4|provided with blind rivets after the manner pre viously described,serves to provide a case in which all of the exposed parts present aperfectly smooth appearance, when in closed position, without anyconnecting means or elements being disclosed, therefore addingsubstantially to the appearance of the article.

What I claim is:

1. In a vanity case of the character described, a pair of telescopingmembers including a casing and a composite container section formed ofseparate opposed elements substantially co-extensive in horizontalextent and interfitted together to form the container section, means forreleasably retaining said elements in interfitted relation, and meanscarried by said casing and one of said elements for limiting themovement of said container section outwardly of said casing.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of telescoping membersincluding a casing and a container section formed of separate elements,each having a body portion and lateral and end edge portions located atsubstantially right angles to said body portion, the lateral and endedges of said elements being reversely interfitted together to form thecontainer section, and means carried by the end edges of one of saidelements for moving said container section into extended relation withsaid casing.

3. In a device of the character described, a composite container sectionformed from separate elements each having a body portion and lateral andend edge portions located at substantially right angles to said bodyportion, said lateral and end edges being reversely interfitted togetherto maintain the body portions in substantially parallel spaced relationwith each other, an end plate secured to the end edge portion of one ofsaid elements, and the end edge of the other element comprising aportion interfitting between said end plate and the end edge of theother element when the parts are interfitted together to provide a firmsupport for said end plate.

4. In a device of the character described a tubular casing provided withopen ends, a container section telescoping within said casing, apermanent closure for one end of said casing comprising an end plate, asupporting plate secured to one side of said end plate, projectionsextending inwardly from the inner faces of opposite sides of saidcasing, and arms carried by said supporting plate and provided withopenings for receiving said projections when forced inwardly thereoverto secure the end plate firmly in position upon said casing.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of telescoping memberscomprising a casing and a container section formed of separate elementsinterfitted together, said separate elements each comprising a bodyportion having angularly positioned side and end edges, the side and endedges of said elements being respectively engaged in reversed positionof the said elements to hold the elements in interfitting relation, andmeans carried by said casing and one of said elements for limiting themovement of said container section outwardly of said casing.

6. In a device of the character described, a pair of telescoping memberscomprising a casing and a container section formed of separate elementsinterfitted together, said separate elements each comprising a bodyportion having angularly positioned edges interengaged with each otherin the reversed positions of said elements to hold the elements ininterfiitting relation, means carried by said casing and one of saidelements for limiting the movement of said container section outwardlyof said casing, and means carried by the other of said element andengageable with a portion of said casing for limiting the movement ofsaid container section inwardly of said casing.

7. In a device of the character described, a casing, a container sectiontelescoping within the casing and formed of separate elements havinginterfitting edge portions interengaging with each other in the reversedpositions of said elements, one of said elements having one or morereceptacles formed in that face thereof which is located outwardly ofthe container section when the elements are interfitted together, and afolding mirror carried by the receptacle carrying element and foldablethereover in the telescoped position of the parts.

8. In a device of the character described, a casing, a container sectiontelescoping within the casing and formed of separate elements havinginterfitted edge portions interengaging with each other in the reversedpositions of said elements, a mirror carried by one of said elements andso positioned relative to said casing as to be movable through an angleof approximately 125 degrees upon movement of said container sectioninto extended relation with said casing, and means acting upon saidmirror upon movement of said container section into extended relationwith said casing for moving said mirror through an angle ofapproximately 125 degrees and into engagement with a portion of saidcasing.

HARRY B. CLEGG.

